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The Reconsideration of “Neutrality” Legislation in 1939

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2017

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Abstract

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Type
Editorial Comment
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1939

References

1 See this Journal, Vol. 29 (1935), p. 665; Vol. 30 (1936), p. 262; Vol. 31 (1937), p. 306.

2 Neutrality, Peace Legislation, and Our Foreign Policy, Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U. S. Sen., 76th Cong. 1st Sees., April 5, 1939-May 8, 1939; American Neutrality Policy, Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Rep., 76th Cong. 1st Sees., April 11-May 2, 1939. The bills considered in the hearings are conveniently found in the combined Committee Prints entitled “[Committee Print] March 31, 1939, Text of Legislation Relating to Neutrality, Peace, and Our Foreign Policy, Pending in the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations,” and “[Committee Print] April 8, 1939, Text of Present Neutrality Law (Printed in Bill form), Proposed Amendments Thereto, and Related Legislation Affecting the Foreign Policy of the United States, Pending in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U. S. House of Representatives, Printed for use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.” Two additional bills not included in the House Committee Print are Mr. Fish’s H. R. 3419 and Mr. Tinkham’s H. J. Res. 295

3 Senate Hearings, p. 86.

4 Ibid., p. 101. See also testimony of Mr. Breckinridge Long, ibid:, p. 212.

5 Neutrality, Its History, Economics and Law, Vol. IV, “Today and Tomorrow,” p. 146.

6 Text of report in Congressional Record, Feb. 13, 1939, p. 1903.

7 Hearings, op. cit., p. 68.

8 Ibid., p. 70.

9 Ibid., p. 214. See this Journal, Vol. 30 (1936), pp. 263-64.

10 Hearings, op. cit., p. 217.

11 This bill modified Mr. Hennings’ earlier bill, H. R. 5223.

12 Department of State, Prees Releases, June 3, 1939, p. 475.

13 On June 6, Mr. Corbett introduced H. R. 6689, providing for the creation of a National Neutrality Commission composed of six members of the House, six members of the Senate, and the Secretaries of Commerce, State, War, the Navy and the Treasury. They would be authorized to appoint expert counsel, advisers and employees. Although the commission would be authorized to make suggestions for enactment of neutrality legislation in general, the functions envisaged for them do not seem to contemplate the kind of continuing and thorough study of neutrality legislation which is needed. None the less, the bill proposes a move in the right direction.